Adjustable column foot



Aug. 23, 1960 K. P. DANIELS 2,949,984 ADJUSTABLE COLUMN FOOT Filed Jan. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. KENNETHR DANIELS WWW ADJUSTABLE coLUMN FOOT Kenneth it. Banieis, Camden, .C., assignor to Tennessee Fahricating iCompany, Memphis, Tenn, a firm Filed Jan. 26, 1956, Ser. No. 561,473

4 Claims. (Ci. 189 42) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in structural elements of the nature of foot or footing structures, particularly of a type adapted for use with ornamental iron work, and more particularly relates to an adjustable foot structure for the columns of ornamental iron work.

It has heretofore been desirable and advantageous to provide sometimes. elaborate iron work in the nature of grilles, lattice work and frescoes and to mount same, particularly in connection with existing structures embodying elongated post elements which are intended to span between a supporting surface of the building structure and an upper overlying structure, such as for example a roof or the like.

Much difliculty has been heretofore encountered in satisfactorily anchoring the lower end or foot of such post-like elements or columns, particularly in conjunction with existing structures in which the supporting structures are in the nature of concrete or the like, and additional difficulties have further been encountered when ornamental iron work of the character under discussion has been employed with new or existing structures in accommodating such post-like elements to span between a lower supporting surface and an upper structure such as a roof, this latter problem being additionally exaggerated in many cases where changes in level, as by settling, occur in the lower supporting surface and thus create an un satisfactory structural situation promoting sagging or other types of lowering of such post-like column elements and consequent sagging of an overlying structure such as a roof, the support of which by the post-like column elements is desired.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel foot structure adapted for use with post-like columns in ornamental iron work or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a foot structure which is readily and facilely adjustable to compensate for variations in requisite height for such column elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide column foot structures which are adapted to anchor the lower portion of columns or posts against lateral movement; and

A further object of the invention is to generally improve the design, construction and efiiciency of means for anchoring ornamental iron work posts to such surfaces.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a typical installation utilizing the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation on an enlarged scale showing the lower or foot end of a column together with the present invention in a preliminary stage of mounting.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the device r 2,949,984 Patented Aug. 23, 1960 in anchored position and immediately before completion of mounting.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the device in final mounted condition, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken as on the line VV of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line VI- JI of Fig. 4, certain parts being shown in elevation.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the present invention is illustrated particularly in use in connection with an ornamental iron grille work 11 which includes at least one upright column member 13. Column member 13 is preferably a hollow member and of polygonal cross section, being shown in the preferred embodiment here illustrated as of square cross section. Column 13 is preferably of substantially uniform cross sectional size throughout its length and preferably terminates at its lowerend 15 in a downwardly open end portion, the lower edges of which are equally cut off in a plane substantially perpendicular to the planes of the sides of the column. Grille work 11, including column 1.3, is adapted to be seated on a suitable supporting structure, such as the concrete surface 17, and the column 13 is of a length to extend upwardly from surface 17 into contact with an overlyingframe work, as the supporting frame of a roof structure 19.

The foot end 15 of column 13 is preferably anchored to supporting surface 17 by the adjustable anchor means of the present invention which comprises a nut 21 which is provided with an internally threaded bore 23 extending from top to bottom of nut 21. The body 25 of nut 21 is frusto-pyramidal in shape, that is it comprises the frustum of a pyramid, embodying as presently illustrated a substantially square cross section, the base of the body having exterior dimensions substantially equal to the internal dimensions of downwardly open column foot end 15. As the nut body 25 is of frusto-pyramidal shape its sides converge inwardly from the base of body 25 and, being of lesser dimension than the internal dimensions of the downwardly open foot end 15, is readily adapted to enter foot end 15 and to greatly facilitate the guiding of the nut 21 into proper position relative to the column foot.

At' the base of nut body 25 a peripheral shoulder 27 is formed as an integral portion of nut 21, body 25 merging into shoulder 27 which extends substantially horizontally outwardly from the base of body 25. Shoulder 27 provides an upfacing seat and forms preferably the upper extremity of a peripheral lower skirt 25 forming an integral lowermost portion of nut 21. Externally skirt 29* is of cross sectional shape and external dimension substan tially similar to the external cross sectional shape and dimension of column foot end 15.

Threadedly engaged with threaded bore 23 of nut 21 is the threaded shank 31 of a surface-engaging thrust member 33. Preferably thrust member 33 is provided with a head 35 of polygonal cross section, being illustrated in the present embodiment of hexagonal cross sectional shape. Head 35 is dimensioned so that none of its portions extend laterally beyond the periphery of skirt 23 or the periphery of column 13. To the lower face 36 of head 35 a downwardly projecting, preferably sharpened pin 37, is rigidly fixed, pin 37 being adapted for driving under action of thrust member 33 into supporting surfaces, such as the concrete surface 17. Slidably mounted on the device when assembled is an external cover and lock sleeve 39 which is of a shape complementary to the cross sectional shape of the column, adapted to slidably engage column foot end 15 and to move downwardly therealong to cover skirt 29 and thrust head'35 so that in use position, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, sleeve 39 moves downwardly torest upon the supporting surface 17 and encases or houses the anchor and adjustment means comprising nut 21 and thrustmember 33, shielding same and additionally engaging head 35 and skirt 29 to hold same against undesired relative rotation.

In use of the device, thrust member 33 is threadedly engaged with nut 21 and threaded shank 31l'runs fully up into the threaded bore '23 so that head 35 and skirt 29 are substantially in the relative position shown in Fig. 2. When so positioned the tapered upper end of the frusto-pyramidal body 25 may be inserted in the lower open end of column foot 15, sleeve 39 having been moved upwardly along the column to expose the lower end of the column foot to receive the nut body. As can readily be seen, nut body 25 is of geometrically similar polygonal cross sectional shape to the interior of column end and consequently the nut body engages with the column against relative rotation.

With the nut body 25 inserted into the column end, the column and anchoring means may then be moved into position over a supporting surface, as the surface 17, with the downwardly projecting pin 37 extending downwardly toward the supporting surface. The column with the adjustable anchor means may then be moved so as to engage pin 37 with the upper face of surface 17, head 35 of the thrust member 33 may then be manipulated through tools such as a wrench to rotate member 33 relatively to nut 21 and withdraw threaded shank 31 partially from threaded boreZS. As this movement is begun head 35 is separated away from skirt 29 and continued relative rotation moves shoulder 27 into abutting engagement with the lowermost edges of column end 15. As the withdrawal of the threaded shank from the bore is continued the upper end of column 13 is thrust solidly against the roof structure with the weight of the roof structure being transferred through the colurn to bear upon pin 37.

Further continuation of the rotation of thrust member 33 effectively bores pin 37 into supporting surface 17, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, the weight of the overlying supported roof structure materially assisting in the seating and embedding of pin 37 into the surface 17. When the pin has been solidly embedded therein and rotation of thinst member 33 continued until lower face 36 of head 35 similarly abuts against the upper face of surface 17, it will readily be seen that the lower end of column 13 is firmly fixed to surface 17 and is anchored against lateral movement.

With the positioning of the device thus accomplished sleeve 39 may be lowered to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and the installation is complete.

It will readily be seen that the structure of the present inventionreadily adapts itself to accommodating column 13 to variations in spacing between surface 17 and roof structure 19 and thus greatly facilitates the installation of the present device.

Additionally it will be appreciated that in the event of a change in the spacingbetween the roof and supporting structures l9, 17, as for example upon the occasion of settling, the device of the present invention further provides a facile and convenient means of quickly compensating for such subsequent space changes, it being observed that in such condition sleeve 39 may be moved upwardly along column 13 to expose thrust member head 35 for rotation of the thrust member in manner similar to that during installation, thus providing for adjustment of the relative position between nut 21 and thrust member 33 when and as desired.

It will further be apparent that in the same manner the device may be readily removed, in the event it becomes desirable, as in the case of remodeling or other construction or change, so as to free the lower ends of columns 13 for subsequent removal.

I claim:

1. In ornamental ironwork, column means, a downwardly open hollow end portion carried by said column threaded shank engaged with said bore, said shank being f 2,949,984 I a. I p

4 means, said end portion being of polygonal cross section and having flat surfaces, an anchor nut, said nut including a frusto-pyramidal body of cross sectional shape similar to that of said end portion, said body extending into and slidably and non-rotationally engaging the interior of said end portion, the base of said body having exterior dimensions nestingly fitting the interior of said end portion substantially from corner to corner thereof, a seat carried by said nut and extending outwardly from the periphery of the base of said body providing an upwardly facing flat surface, the lower edges of said end portion seating on said seat surface, a skirt depending from said seat, said skirt being of external dimension and polygonal cross sectional shape substantially equal to the external dimension and polygonal cross sectional shape of said end portion and having flat surfaces disposed substantially coplanar with said end portion flat surfaces, the interior of said nut body and skirt being bored from top to bottom to provide an internally threaded bore, a thrust member including a head, a

connected to and projecting upwardly from said head, a pin integrally fixed to and projecting downwardly from said head, said head including at least one pair of flat sides disposed in substantially the same plane with exterior flat surfaces of said polygonal end portion and said polygonal skirt, and a polygonal cover-and-lock sleeve slidably and non-rotationally engaged with the exterior of said end portion of said skirt and of said head sides, said sleeve when so positioned engaging said flat surfaces and said head sides, locking said end portion, skirt, and head against relative rotation and effecting housing thereof, and being slidably shiftable away from said head to expose and free said head for rotation to effect adjustment of the position of said thrust member relative to said nut, said pin under the influence of such adjustment being adapted to imbed in a supporting surface.

2. In ornamental ironwork, column means, a downwardly open hollow end portion carried by said column means, said end portion being of polygonal cross section and having flat surfaces, an anchor nut, said nut including a body of cross sectional shape similar to that of said end portion, said body extending into and slidably and non-rotationally engaging the interior of said end portion, the base of said body having exterior dimensions nestingly fitting the interior of said end portion substantially from corner to corner thereof, a seat carried by said nut and extending outwardly from the periphery of the base of said body providing an upwardly facing fiat surface, the lower edges of said end portion seating on said seat surface, a skirt integral with said body extending downwardly from said seat, said skirt being of external dimension and polygonal cross sectional shape substantially equal to the external dimension and polygonal cross sectional shape of said end portion and having flat surfaces disposed substantially coplanar with said end portion flat surfaces, the interior of said nut body and skirt being bored from top to bottom to provide an internally threaded bore, a thrust member including a head, a threaded shank engaged with said bore, said shank being connected to and projecting upwardly from said head, a pin integrally fixed to and projecting down wardly from said head, said head including at least one pair of flat sides disposed in substantially the same plane with exterior flat surfaces of said polygonal end portion and said polygonal skirt, and a polygonal cover-and-lock sleeve slidably and non-rotationally engaged with the exterior of said end portion of said skirt and of said head sides, said sleeve when so positioned engaging said flat surfaces and said head sides, locking said end portion, skirt, and head against relative rotation and effecting housing thereof, and being slidably shiftable away from said head to expose and free said head for rotation to effect adjustment of the position of said thrust member relative to said nut, said pin under the influence of such adjustment being adapted to imbed in a supporting surface.

3. In ornamental ironwork, column means, a downwardly open hollow end portion carried by said column means, said end portion being of polygonal cross section and having flat surfaces, an anchor nut, said nut including a body of cross sectional shape similar to that of said end portion, said body extending into and slidably and non-rotationally engaging the interior of said end portion, the base of said body having exterior dimensions nestingly fitting the interior of said end portion substantially from corner to corner thereof, a seat carried by said nut and extending outwardly from the periphery of the base of said body providing an upwardly facing flat surface, the lower edges of said end portion seating on said seat surface, the interior of said nut body being bored from top to bottom to provide an internally threaded bore, a thrust member including a head, a threaded shank engaged with said bore, said shank being connected to and projecting upwardly from said head, a pin integrally fixed to and projecting downwardly from said head, said head including at least one pair of flat sides disposed in substantially the same plane with exterior fiat surfaces of said polygonal end portion, and a polygonal cover-and-lock sleeve slidably and non-ro tationally engaged with the exterior of said end portion and said head sides, said sleeve when so positioned engaging said flat surfaces and said head sides, locking said end portion and said head against relative rotation and effecting housing thereof, and being slidably shiftable away from said head to expose and free said head for rotation to effect adjustment of the position of said thrust member relative to said nut, said pin under the infiuence of such adjustment being adapted to imbed in a supporting surface.

4. Anchor means for use in ornamental ironwork, comprising an anchor nut, said nut including a frustopyramidal body, said body slidably extending into and non-rotationally engaging the interior of a hollow column, a seat carried by said nut and extending outwardly from the periphery of the base of said body providing an upwardly facing flat surface receiving and supporting the lower edges of a column, a polygonal skirt integral with said body extending downwardly from said seat, said skirt having exterior flat surfaces, the interior of said nut body and skirt being bored from top to bottom to provide an internally threaded bore, a thrust member including a head, a threaded shank engaged with said bore, said shank being connected to and projecting upwardly from said head, a pin integrally fixed to and projecting downwardly from said head, said head including at least one pair of flat sides disposed in substantially the same plane with exterior flat surfaces of said skirt, and a polygonal cover-and-lock sleeve slidably and non-rotationally engaged with the exterior of said skirt and said head sides, said sleeve when so positioned engaging said flat surfaces and said head sides, locking said skirt and head against relative rotation and effecting housing thereof, and being slidably shiftable away from said head to expose and free said head for rotation to effect adjustment of the position of said thrust member relative to said nut, said pin under the influence of such adjustment being adapted to imbed in a supporting surface.

- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 239,556 Sabin Mar. 29, 1881 367,084 Baker July 26, 1887 474,750 Little et al. May 10, 1892 813,318 McCarthy Feb. 20, 1906 931,737 Dorlfel Aug. 24, 1909 1,289,473 Keating Dec. 31, 1918 2,001,574 Jacobson May 14, 1935 2,240,483 Anderson May 6, 1941 2,763,342 French Sept. 18, 1956 2,767,513 Bluestone Oct. 23, 1956 

